Iowa Football: Keys to Defeating Purdue Boilermakers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s how the Iowa Hawkeyes can defeat the Purdue Boilermakers

Iowa football travels to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. The Iowa Hawkeyes have won their last thee games against Purdue, including a dominating 40-20 win a year ago. Although, Iowa is a much different team than in 2015.

They do enter the game with a 4-2 record and are still in the hunt for a Big Ten West championship, though. However, a loss to Purdue would severely hurt the Hawkeyes’ chances of repeating as division champions.

That being said, Purdue comes into the game with already more wins than in 2015. The Boilermakers are coming off a 34-31 overtime victory at Illinois to improve to 3-2 on the year. Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell is looking for anything positive these days, and a win over Iowa would be the biggest win of his career.

Even though the Hawkeyes enter the game as heavy favorites, their lack of ability to put teams away this year has been a problem. Iowa’s last four games have all been decided by single-digits, and they had chances in each game to pull ahead for good.

Purdue might not strike fear like the elites of the Big Ten, however Iowa can’t go into the game thinking they already have it won. Here’s a look at how Iowa can win their fifth game of the season.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Be Better Than Purdue

It’s obvious, but it must be said. Sometimes it seems like Iowa forgets that they went 12-0 in the regular season last year and still have a boat load of talent. Whether its conservative play calling or players not performing, underwhelming games have been a theme for this Hawkeyes in 2016.

They had many chances to pull away and build a substantial lead in each of the last four games. Sure, their opposition deserves some credit for holding Iowa in check, but the Hawkeyes simply haven’t played well and don’t look like a confident team heading into week seven.

Even though Iowa isn’t dominating college football like they did a year ago, they are not a bad team. In fact, statistically, they’ve been better than each of their last three opponents, however haven’t capitalized on their advantage in skill level.

This week, they take on an underwhelming Purdue team. Even though seeing Iowa pull away and winning with ease seems like a probable outcome, many expected the same when they took on Rutgers — Iowa squeaked out a 14-7 win. Also, Iowa allowed a struggling Northwestern offense to score 38 points and only managed 14 points against an average Minnesota defense.

Iowa will have plenty of chances to pull ahead and squash any hope of an upset Purdue has. Purdue ranks outside of the top-80 in the nation in both points per game (26 PPG; 84th) and points allowed per game (31.4 PPG; 93rd). Not to mention the Boilermakers are without their leading receiver in Domonique Young on offense.

Even in a disappointing season, the Hawkeyes still rank 14th in points allowed per game and are scoring 27.8 points per game. Despite their scoring being inflated by their first two games, Iowa still has two running backs averaging more than five yards per carry and C.J. Beathard is completing more than 60 percent of his passes.

No, the Hawkeyes aren’t as good as 2015, but they’re better than most of the Big Ten and need to start playing like it. With Wisconsin traveling to Iowa City the following week, the Hawkeyes have a perfect confidence boosting game this week.

While Iowa can’t go in overconfident and thinking they have the game already won, the Hawkeyes should travel to West Lafayette with a certain swagger to them. They’re the better football team this week, and it’s not even close. That’s been a common statement, and now it’s time for this team to put it all together and prove it to be true.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Establish a Run Game

Despite Iowa’s innate desire to pass more in 2016, they’re still trying to figure out how to get George Kittle more involved and protect C.J. Beathard. After Northwestern sacked Beathard six times, the Hawkeyes only allowed one sack to Minnesota but still have yet to figure out how to survive without Matt VandeBerg.

The answer is simple, run the ball more.

LeShun Daniels Jr and Akrum Wadley combined to rush 31 times last week, compared to 31 pass attempts and nine runs by Beathard. Even though the offensive line has had a hard time winning in the trenches this year, establishing a ground game is key to helping the pass game.

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Not only does it set up play action, but it also forces teams to pay less attention to George Kittle so they can stop the run. Then, if they start to blitz or pack the box, it leaves more space downfield for receivers to get open.

Iowa’s run game has suffered from a shaky offensive line this year, though. The last time both Daniels and Wadley averaged at least four yards per carry in the same game was against Rutgers. Plus, Iowa has not had back-to-back weeks with a 100-yard rusher since the first two weeks of the season.

Although, the Hawkeyes take on a struggling Purdue run defense this week, therefore establishing the run early will be important. Opposing teams are averaging 5.6 yards per carry against the Boilermakers, and Illinois ran for 315 yards and three scores, averaging 6.8 yards per rush, a week ago.

Plus, three of their first five opponents have averaged at least 5.5 yards per carry, and Nevada is the only team not to score a rushing touchdown on the Boilermakers this season. Not to mention this defense allowed 400 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns a couple of weeks ago to Maryland.

Even though Purdue doesn’t have a great secondary or an amazing pass rush that will disrupt Iowa’s passing game, a solid performance on the ground would give the offensive line a lot of confidence heading into their matchup with a tough Wisconsin defense the following week.

Also, the Hawkeyes are simply a better offense when they pound the rock and don’t only focus on passing. C.J. Beathard has proven to be a reliable quarterback, although he’s thrown three interceptions in the past two weeks and is getting knocked down on nearly every passing play.

A solid ground game also gives opponents fewer opportunities to hit Beathard, a problem Iowa has faced in 2016. He and Iowa can’t afford him taking a beating every week because eventually he will break.

The Hawkeyes have been more dedicated to establishing a ground game over the past couple of weeks, and they need to continue that trend. Daniels and Wadley both have a solid opportunity to have a big game against Purdue.

Iowa doesn’t need to abandon the pass, although, if Iowa can score by running the ball and keep Beathard on his feet then that should be their forte. Besides, it would also help them hold the ball for longer, a problem they’ve had this season, and give more rest to an overworked defense.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Same Defense as Last Week

Other than allowing Northwestern to score 38 points, Iowa’s defense has give them a chance to win every game. That being said, their performance against Minnesota a week ago is the best they have looked all season. Instead of a bend but don’t break mentality, the Hawkeyes simply shut down the Gophers offense.

They forced three turnovers on the afternoon, including intercepting two Mitch Leidner passes to double his interception total on the season. The Hawkeyes are forcing just under two turnovers per game, although they did more than just that a week ago.

The defense put consistent pressure on Leidner and never allowed him to get comfortable in the pocket. Plus, they held him to one rushing yard. Iowa allowed mobile quarterbacks to scramble for significant yards all season, therefore stopping a very mobile quarterback in Leidner should instill confidence in them heading into their matchup against Purdue.

This week, they take on a team that is committing nearly three turnovers per contest. Purdue has committed 13 turnovers in 2016, including two games with four or more. While the nine interceptions David Blough has thrown this year is a common point of discussion, Purdue also lost three fumbles in one game, against Nevada.

Even though Purdue has seemed to have solve the daunting turnover problem they had at the beginning of the year, they have still committed at least one turnover every game, and Iowa is one of the best teams in the nation at forcing fumbles.

The Hawkeyes have forced eight fumbles in 2016, recovering six. Intercepting Blough a couple of times might be the assumed way Iowa will create turnovers this week, although, unless Iowa finally shows the ability to pull away early in the game, Purdue will be a run-heavy offense with Markell Jones. That means stopping the run and stripping the ball is once again a priority.

The defense might revert back to bend but don’t break defense, or they might be the same dominating team from a week ago. Despite being beaten by an underwhelming Northwestern offensive line, Iowa’s defensive line bounced back a week ago and will have to do the same this week.

It’s not only about turnovers and sacks — Iowa only recorded two sacks at Minnesota. Last week was the first time Iowa played great defense and didn’t hold on for dear life. They should be able to do the same against Purdue, and hopefully the offense gives them more help, as well.